They look like scales
You muse aloud, “The Drift System is a dangerous place, any kind of improvement to our hull might make a big difference.”
The merchant pulls out his communicator and starts yelling at someone on the other end, “Look K-2, none of your attitude — bring me a pallet of duranium plates.” The merchant cranes his head around to look at the numbered designation on the wall, “Haul them to docking bay 69.”
He turns his attention back to your engineer, “While we wait, how about getting me another beer.”
Reluctantly, your engineer steps away to oblige, clearly unwilling to ruin this merchant’s rare generosity.
Moments later, you emerge onto the docking platform to find the merchant sipping a frothy ale. A tall, black-and-gray droid pushes in a grav-sled piled high with gleaming duranium plates. Without hesitation, the merchant and droid begin tack-welding the plates in a tight pattern that looks for all the world like fish scales. In no time at all, your ship’s sides are completely sheathed in the new armor.
The merchant wipes his hands on his coat and calls to your engineer, “Next step: we’ve got to tweak your electrostatic barrier from inside.”
Your engineer motions you aboard via the ramp. “Right this way.”
You follow along, bringing up the rear, feeling like a spectator onboard your own ship.
Inside engineering, the merchant directs the droid: “K-2, trace the barrier’s power couplings and install a bridge-accessible polarity toggle switch.”
Within minutes, K-2 announces, “Task completed,” as it snaps the tactical console back together.
The merchant strides over, flips the electrostatic barrier on, then off again. “I’ve magnetized those duranium plates to the hull. The magnetic field holds them tighter than tack welds ever could. If you don’t want to burn through shields when something’s closing fast, just reverse the barrier’s polarity with this switch. It’ll fling the plates away from the hull, taking the hit for you. Just remember, it’s a one-time deal.”
Place the Modification: Hull Plates hex next to your ship mat. As long as you continue to use this specific ship, you’ll have the one time option to block all damage from an attack by launching the plates off your ship.